Golf: Understanding Stroke Penalties for Out-of-Bounds Shots

Question
I hit out of bound from tee off and I have to start at 3. From the fairway, I hit out
of bound, I drop a ball, add one and that's it (one stroke penalty, lose distance).
I see a difference in the two cases, is there one? And why ?

Answer
HI Gilles,

There is no difference between the two. In both cases you add a stroke penalty and lose distance.

1. Tee shot

stroke 1 = hit ball OB
stroke 2 = penalty stroke
stroke 3 = hit ball in play

2. From fairway (assume from tee so already taken 1 stroke

stroke 2 = hit ball OB
stroke 3 = penalty stroke
stroke 4 = hit ball in play

So, in both cases, there have been two extra strokes taken (thus called stroke & distance penalty).

Hope this helps.

Ken